2019-11-06 Mk 15:20-32
Notes
Transcript
20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.
21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull).
23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.
25 Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him.
26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews.
27 They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”
31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!
32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.
mk
I. Jesus entered his Crucifixion empty.
I. Jesus entered his Crucifixion empty.
20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.
21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull).
mk 15:
A. Jesus had endured such physical torture that he was not strong enough to carry His cross.
A. Jesus had endured such physical torture that he was not strong enough to carry His cross.
20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.
21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
mk 15:20
Illus: Crucifixion was the most brutal form of torture up until that point in history. In fact, it might be the most brutal form of torture ever.
In crucifixion, you were left to slowly suffocate on the cross.
The way you hung collapsed your rib cage where you couldn’t breathe. To breath, one would be forced to pull up, slowly exhausting the body.
Not every crucifixion used nails. often your hands and feet were tied to the cross beams and that was sufficient.
Nails were used to further incite the pain. The nails did not quicken the death, but increased the torture. The nails placed in the feet/hands/or wrists did not secure the person to the cross, but instead were used to magnify pain as you pulled/pushed off the piercings to breathe.
Jesus did not enter his crucifixion with any strength.
Before Jesus was let go to be crucified, he endured flogging. (explain flogging with cat of 9 tails)
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
16 The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called the whole company together.
17 They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him.
18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19 They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage.
20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.
Mk 15:15-
B. Don’t miss the importance of Simon of Cyrene.
B. Don’t miss the importance of Simon of Cyrene.
20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.
21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Mk 15:20
Illus: The inclusion of Simon of Cyrene in this story is important. Yes it is important that we see Jesus was to weak to endure the pain.
The book of mark was written around 64 ad— about 30-32 years after the death of Jesus. The specific name of Simon of Cyrene is important because it places information in the text that can be specifically verified. Simon of Cyrene was a specific person who could be questioned about the viability of Mark’s account.
More than that though, church tradition state that there was an early church leader named Rufus— I.E. the rufus mentioned in verse 21. Many scholars believe that the reason Simon’s name (and more importantly Alexander and Rufuf’s names are written into the Markan account is so that you can verify the truthfulness of Mark’s claims.
There is a thread in the early works of the church to say “check the data”, “Verify the evidence”
In peter’s sermon at Pentecost, the crowd clearly could have checked the facts of his story. When Stephen preached to the Sanhedrin, they could have checked the facts. As you read through the New Testament, it is more than a good story. It is a real story, with real people, who are listed in the text.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:
6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.
II. Jesus chose to stay on the cross and endure all of the pain.
II. Jesus chose to stay on the cross and endure all of the pain.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull).
23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.
25 Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him.
26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews.
27 They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”
mk 15:22
A. Jesus embraced every bit of the pain.
A. Jesus embraced every bit of the pain.
mk 15:
23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
Illus: As Rome brought the brutality of crucifixion to Israel, a group of women responded out of compassion for their fellow countrymen, and obedience to scripture. They created a narcotic drink of Wine and Myrrh to numb the excruciating pain of the cross. It was the ancient equivalent of morphine.
6 Give beer to one who is dying and wine to one whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.
Pr 31
It would have been easy for Jesus to take the wine mixture so that the pain of the cross would not have stung. He could have eased into a morphine dazed comma where the physical and spiritual pain would have passed by him, while mentally he would have been unaware.
Jesus chose to reject this drink. It was important that Jesus feel every bit of pain and anguish. it was important that Jesus heard every mocking word.
Jesus willingly embraced the pain of crucifixion, clear headed.
Over and over Mark shows how Jesus was given the opportunity to cheapen the cross, walk away from the cross, lighten the punishment… and over and over Jesus embrace the fullness of the pain knowing that it is only through embracing all the pain that we as sinners escape it.
Jesus did more than die in our place. Jesus suffered in our place. Jesus willingly denied escapes from the pain in our place.
It was only in fully embracing the pain that Jesus became our substitute.
16 Answer me, Lord, for your faithful love is good. In keeping with your abundant compassion, turn to me.
17 Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
18 Come near to me and redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies.
19 You know the insults I endure— my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries.
20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.
21 Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
B. Jesus willingly stayed on the cross.
B. Jesus willingly stayed on the cross.
mk 15:
29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”
Illus: Picture the scene with me. We know that Jesus died for those whom he loved.
I would do the same. I would give my life for my girls, for my wife, for my friends.
Picture the scene with me… Jesus’ friend had scattered, his closest diciple had denied him.
The crowds which once followed him had screamed for his crucifixion.
He was mocked, teased, and forced to wear a crown of thorns.
He was hit by sticks and told to prophecy of who hit him.
Fast forward to the cross. On the cross people screamed insults at Jesus. They mocked his divinity.
Think of the will it took not to call down condemnation on the crowd. Think of what it took to for Jesus to say, “forget this, they don’t deserve my death.”
35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
III. Jesus died for every mocking word.
III. Jesus died for every mocking word.
31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!
32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.
mk 15:
A. We truly know God’s love when we see Jesus willingness to stay on the cross.
A. We truly know God’s love when we see Jesus willingness to stay on the cross.
Illus: Have you considered how normal the cross has become to us?
It is an act that has become commonplace in our minds.
We think, well yes Jesus died for me, but we rarely stop to dell and understand the depth of pain our God willingly chose so that we might have life.
As we draw near to Thanksgiving and christmas, might we discover anew the true depth of love Jesus has for us.
5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.
6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.